Third-gen iPad owners: does the fourth-gen iPad irk you?

How do Ars readers feel about a new iPad only seven months later?

Is your third-generation iPad, which you've owned for seven months or fewer (because that's how long it's been on the market), now "obsolete?" The answer, it turns out, is yes, thanks to Apple's spec bump on Tuesday, which brought about the fourth generation of the device. With a new A6X processor, expanded LTE capabilities, and a new Lightning connector, the fourth-gen iPad is in and the third-gen is unequivocally out. Even the iPad 2 is still for sale through Apple as a discounted model, but not the version of the iPad that was just introduced earlier this year.

Does it upset you? For some, the answer to that question is "yes." When we buy new things, we like to think we're getting some life out of owning the latest and greatest—especially if it's a $500+ device. For some, it's about bragging rights, but for others, it's purely based on principle. People who like to buy Apple devices tend to view it as a deal with the devil—you get to enjoy the newest iPad for a while and Apple gets a considerable chunk of your money. Devices should come out on a predictable schedule within a reasonable timeline so that we're always either owning the current thing, or planning for it on the calendar.

Or should they? There are plenty of customers who don't mind buying a device whose moment in the spotlight is short-lived. Those of us who purchased third-generation iPads did so (presumably) because we liked the specs at the time and felt like it would be a worthwhile purchase. Was it only worthwhile seven (or fewer) months ago but not today? If it continues to work well for your needs, then what's the fuss?

Sure, some users might have bought their third-gen iPads just the other day, so their frustration may be justified. (And many of those people are able to exchange their purchases for fourth-gen versions.) But for the average, everyday iPad user, it may be hard to articulate exactly why such a tight update schedule feels so aggravating.

Which is why we turn to you, Ars readers. Are you frustrated with Apple's decision to release an entirely new generation of iPads so soon after the last? Or do you take a more zen approach, seeing new iPad introductions as irrelevant to your past purchasing decisions that you're still perfectly happy with? And most importantly: why do you feel this way? Tell us in the comments how you view this latest update to the full-sized iPad line (iPad mini notwithstanding) and we'll round up the best reader comments in a follow-up post about how our community frames Apple's decision to upgrade the iPad now, instead of later.